Victory with some history (pics)

[izzwins]

I was at my grandparents house and my grandma is sorting out some of her collectables for the kids as they are looking to down size to an apartment. She asked if there was anything that would have meaning to me and I told her I was interested in my great grandfather's service revolver.

It turns out that it is not the pistol that he carried but one that another deputy carried at the time he worked there. Grandma said that the department sold this somewhere between 1953 and 1956 and knew the guy's name that carried it.

I told her that I would still like to have it because it was a from the department that I now work for, my grandma worked for and her dad worked for. It was also the first pistol I ever shot.

She gave me this Smith with the holster that it sat in for 30+ years in her closet. She also dug around and gave me an Iver Johnson top break revolver and a .22 that is missing the cylinder.

Any info on this is appreciated (like value) and feel free to add it to the data bank. All numbers match (V506692) with the exception of the grips which are stamped 497826. There is a P on the left side by the hammer and on the cylinder one chamber in front of the V. There are no U.S. Government stamps or military markings on it. There is an M or W and an 8 stamped that you can see in the third picture. Here are some pictures.

 

[izzwins]

I was at my grandparents house and my grandma is sorting out some of her collectables for the kids as they are looking to down size to an apartment. She asked if there was anything that would have meaning to me and I told her I was interested in my great grandfather's service revolver.

It turns out that it is not the pistol that he carried but one that another deputy carried at the time he worked there. Grandma said that the department sold this somewhere between 1953 and 1956 and knew the guy's name that carried it.

I told her that I would still like to have it because it was a from the department that I now work for, my grandma worked for and her dad worked for. It was also the first pistol I ever shot.

She gave me this Smith with the holster that it sat in for 30+ years in her closet. She also dug around and gave me an Iver Johnson top break revolver and a .22 that is missing the cylinder.

Any info on this is appreciated (like value) and feel free to add it to the data bank. All numbers match (V506692) with the exception of the grips which are stamped 497826. There is a P on the left side by the hammer and on the cylinder one chamber in front of the V. There are no U.S. Government stamps or military markings on it. There is an M or W and an 8 stamped that you can see in the third picture. Here are some pictures.

 

[LWCmdr45]

izzwins,

Thanks for your addition to the database. Comparing it to known SNs, your gun shipped circa Winter, 1943-44 (best guess, February, 1944). There should be a third "P" proof at the underside of the barrel to go along with those you mentioned at the upper left frame and rear of cylinder. The "8" you describe at the butt is actually the Ordnance Dept. "flaming bomb" marking.

This gun may have shipped directly to your family's department, or may have served its "second life" there, so a factory letter is advised.

Enjoy it; it looks like a nice piece!

Steve

 

[j38]

Good photos of a very nice Victory! I hope you enjoy that gun and that it gets passed on to the next generation along with its history.

Jerry

 

[Tom Doniphon]

The "W" mark on the butt is still a mystery. I have Victory 498607 that has the "W" mark, and there are several Victory Models in that serial number range with the "W" mark. It seem many in that range were shipped to the Navy and may then have been sent to the OSS.

 

[izzwins]

I noticed the third P after I posted last night. There are also two sets of matching numbers under the ejector hinge. 60804. I'm not sure if they are relevant but thought I would let you know.